Current-wheel



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

H. G. GARDNER. CURRENT WHEEL.

'No. 485,624. Patented Now, 8. 1892.-

H. 0. GARDNER." 5 CURRENT WHEEL.

. 'No. 485,624. Patented News, 1892.

Nrrnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY CL GARDNER, OF NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE.

-CURRENT-WHEEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 485,624, dated November8, 1892.

Application filed October 14, 1891. Serial No. 408,673. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

l 3e it known that I, HENRY G. GARDNER, a c tizen of the United States,residing at Nashv1lle, in the county of Davidson and State of Tennessee,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Current-Wheels; andI do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

Th1s invention relates generally to waterpowers, and particularly to anapparatus for utilizing the waters of a stream or river without dammingthe same, and by the force of the current of such stream raising Waterfrom the stream to a height sufficient to drive any desired water-motor;and it has for its object to provide a wheel of great capacity, ofsimple and durable construction, and to regulate the discharge of Watertherefrom automatically; and it consists of the parts and combinationsof parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification,Figure l is a side elevation of a barge, partly broken away,

showing my invention thereon; and Fig. 2, a

perspective view of my improved wheel.

Similar letters refer to similar parts in both vlews.

In carrying out my invention I preferably provide two barges, which aresecured togetheralongside each other at a suit-able distance apart, andcentrally between said barges I mount or journal myimproved scoop-wheelA. This wheel consists of a central cylindrical tubular axle B, fromwhich radiate in curved. lines the partitions O, which are arranged atequal distances apart, the convex side of one partition and the concaveside of the adjacent partition forming between them the scoops orchambers D, the end walls of which are formed by disks E, fitting aboutthe axle and closely against the ends of said partitions in order toform water-tight joints. Centrally between each pair of partitions atthe point where theyjoin the axle, I form the peripheral openings orelongated slots to in said axle, the number of which being a matter ofconvenience or as found desirable or necessary. I

F represents flap or gravity valves pivotally attached to the edges ofthe slots at on the interior of the axle, and adapted as said axle isrotated to alternately cover and uncover the slots, each slot being onceclosed orcovered and once uncovered or unclosed at each revolution ofthe axle, said valves opening on the upward movement of the wheel andclosing on the downward movement of the same, thus preventing the escapeof the Water into the compartments on the lower side of the wheel duringits revolutions and causing the same to flow out at the end of the axleor shaft.

On the outer or convex sides of the partitions, at a point near theiredges, I attach, in any suitable manner, the floats or paddles G, saidpaddles being preferably formed with a rearwardly-extending angularportion 19, thus adapting said paddles to enter the water with the leastresistance and to afford greater sur- 7 face for the Water to act upon.when the paddles have once entered the water. The axle is of greaterlength than the partitions and has formed or secured thereon adjacentthe outer sides of the disks at each end a flange c, the purpose ofwhich will be hereinafter described. The wheel'described may be built ofwood or metal, as desired, wood being preferred, owing to its greaterlightness of weight. When arranged in position on a stream orwater-course, as hereinafter described, so that the ends or edges of thepartitions will extend into the water for a depth of about six inches,according to the diameter of the wheel, (when at their greatest depththerein and with their convex sides upstream) it will be seen that thewater will be scooped up into the chambers by theforce of the stream,which, acting upon the paddles, propel the same and cause the wheel torotate, thus raising at each revolution a given quantity of water anddis charging the same through the slots a into the tubular axle, fromwhence it is conducted, through either end, to operate any motordesired, to furnish the power for operating machinery of any kind.

It may be found in practice that the forming of one long or numeroussmall slots or openings in the axle for each of the buckets willmaterially weaken the same and I have therefore designed to reduce thenumber of the slots in the axle by forming the axle solid 50 on thebanks of the stream, by belts.

between every alternate bucket and forming IQ partitions directly andagainst the direction of the current, gaining thereby a leverage equalto their weight to assist in carrying up the wheel when said paddlesfall forward onto the wheel during its revolution and straightening outbefore or as they enter the stream;

also, the paddles may be jointed-that is, the

angular portion may be. hinged to the main.

portion of the paddle if a stop or catch be arranged on the same tolimit the distance it may open.

In Fig. 1' I show my improved wheel, with one end disk removed, arrangedin position for operation between two barges, of which only a portionlofone barge, in side elevation, is shown.

As here arranged the barges are supposed to be anchored in the currentof the stream and the wheel supported on the frame H, secured to andprojecting upwardly from the bottom of the barge through the medium 0 offriction-wheels (1, said wheels being arranged so as to have theirbearing directly on the axle at a point outside'of andadjacent theflange 0, whereby endwise or longitudinal movement of the axle andwheelis prevented. K represents a vertical tube of supply of a.

diameter sufficient to receive the discharge of water from the tubularaxle, arranged at the.

end or both ends, if desired, of the axle and being bent horizontally atits lower portion,

40 and leads into a box or casingsurrounding a turbine wheel of anydesired or well-known construction, the vertical shaftfof which .car-

ries at its upper end a bevel-wheel g, mesl1in'g with a similar wheelarranged on a line-shaft 5 h, which is supported from the ceiling orflooring of the upper deck of the barge, as clearly shown. From pulleyson thisshaft the power may be transmitted to any machineryit is desiredto operate, either on board the barge or also my purpose to apply myimproved wheel, if I desire so to do, to the forward part or bow of abarge orscow-or other vessels which are towed or pushed through thewater in order to scoop outor remove from the path of. the.

barge or scow a certain quantity of water and discharge the same at eachend of the wheel,.

thereby lessening the resistance to and rais- It is.

ing the forward end of the vessel partly out of the. water.-

While I have described my wheel as arranged between two barges or otherfloating platforms, I do not desire to be restricted to sucharrangement, as it is evident I may place the same on a single bargeeither above an auxiliary bottom open at both ends for the passage ofthe water therethrough or arrange the same to extend through an openingformed in the bottom of the barge; nor do I desire to be restricted to afloating or movable platform, as it is evident the framework-andplatform may be permanently secured in the stream, if desired, althoughwhen used on streams subject to the ebb and flow of the tide itis'betterto have the same capable. of rising and falling therewith.

In case of repairs, orit is. desired forany purpose to stop the rotationof. the wheel, I provide a sliding or hinged valve or door adapted to be,let down at either side of. the wheel-that is, in front or. in. rean ofthe same-to a distance the depth at which the. wheel extends into the.water, and thereby stopping or checking the current immediately infrontor in rear. of the wheel and stopping the. revolution of thelatter.

Having thus described my invention, what. I claim as new, and desiretosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A current-wheel dividedinto a series of. compartments,a hollow axle.or shaft communicating with 'saidcompartments, and automatic valves toalternately open and close communication duringtthe operation of .the.

said wheel, substantially as described.

2.A scoop-wheel divided into a series of compartments adapted todischarge. into-the axle of the .wheehautomatic flap-valves, for.

preventingthe return. of .the water to; said.

HENRY G. GARDNER.

Witnesses:

J. F. BEALE, W. E. BOWEN.

